New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-22

Marsh"
Marsh's great frame made sort of 'couvulsivs
movement which resulted In the drawing OF the
hands from the pockets. From the impetus of thai
movement he went snort distance in the direction
the voice, which cow exclaimed, coming nearer.
swhat are them women goin' to do about supper
Was you gon' to put up their tent for 'em Y
wasr shortly.
Mrs. Marsh Yates laughed and said they might Del
all their old shoes she was sorry for EN-, then.
We did not make the bet, but we began to climb the
slope of heavy sand which led up to the ridge just
beyond which the miserable, rcketty house WINCH
Marsh had inherited from his father, and which was
the home of this pair Between us and the house
was swung large iron kettle which, IN days gone oy
must have been used for making soft soap. IL was
now employed to boil Holsters in, and a few embers
wee smoking and cleaning under IT.
We had come down thus early on purpose to fore
stall the summer visitors There was nook that we
beey ed tent might occupy and be almost
unobserved We wanted an out of door, free life In
this salt air. There should be nearly six weeks be-
fore the human element would pc TOO prominent But
e had not expected to find that element extremely
scarce just
Marsh Yates's wife stood still and awaited our toll
approach. At my first look at her was startled
by her beauty. She was tall and dark, with enor.
nous flashing eyes underneath straight brows; red
mouth. dimpei chin, cir that might belong. !
instantly thought. to gypsy queen. She looked az
calmly approached. Though she stood per-
fectly STILL there an appearance OF o'ermastering
energy in her face and fgure. Behind us came the
husband, tagging.
"We have plenty of cold proyi,ons in our baskets,"
said, " bat would you kindly give us some tea ~
@You can have tea and welcome, if you'll git that
man to git some God to make II with | used my
last stick to git supper"
There wcs such bitter scorn in her way of saying
that uan that could not help crnging for him,
at tho time that my hopes went down in regard
to tea.
" Mebbe en- find some drift" he said, and turned
back on to the beach.
Maria Jane flung out her hand with contemptu-
gesture and exclaimed That's the last O. him y
" But he has had 10 supper" yentured to say.
Z" What o. that He'd ruther starvo than work any
time. Besides he'll git a lobster outer somebody's
pawt Somebody'll ask him 70 supper pfaps Folks
knder likes him. | DO myself. But of all the SHIFT
less toos he's the shiessest. You en- come inter the
house n set, il you wanter."
How faint aud hungry we were, and how we longed
for tea And what about the tent Farewell to the
teDt for this night II would stay where the express
man lett it, And what would become of usl The
hotels not open, thu cottages were not Open the
only buildings that were open were few wretched
houses belonging to fishermen. 1t would be an impo
sition intrude upon them. All the wise people had
told that it ridiculous for 30 think OF camp
Jug out before the middle of July. Was 1t possible
that the wise people wore rghtl But if dyspepsia
and sleeple.sness and suca ills had been bounding
these people would they not have ventured even as
yenturing
The house we had entered had two rooms below.
o ser the front door nailed ships f2urehead,
large mermaid which had once been heavily gilded,
but was nov very shabby indeed. She had sicken-
ing exaggerated kind Of smirk on her face, which,
taken with her loss OF gliding, was decidedly inebect-
ual The front room had bare implanted floor,
washed very clean. There wero Two chairs, one
very uncertain support on account OF the wobbling
about OF its legs when you sat down upon IT. The
other hal once been gded and upholstered, and had
arms to it, covered with the ragged remains OF
the canvas which the cloth had been stretched.
was sure that this also bad been washed ashore.
Probably Mars Jane had brought both the mermaid
and the chair from the beach, for Marsh wonld have
been TOO tired. Everything was entirely bare and
entirely clean. The floor swayed somewhat as we
stepped upon it, and there were wide cracks in it,
allowing glimpses into voids below
Mrs. Yates lighted small kerosene lamp and told
us to &" SCI down twas jest cheap to set as to
stand"
She stood looking q moment at us with tho lamp
held aloft in her hand. Yes she remarkably
handsome, though this high. revealed that her SKIN
was somewhat ooarsened, and there was deep line
down the middle OF her forehead and o permanent
scowl there.
~ swan" she suddenly said with emphasis, aye
do look tired. It ter 20 want quite bright
ter come down here so early"
That's tho way it begins to seem to U.s." said my
friend deectediy.
Maria Jane smiled slightly She set tho lamp
down on the empty shelf with thud.
- Now I'll tell ye," she said briskly Of you'll tell
me where yer victuals be I'll go'n git em for ye."
And we can't have any tea ~ said Carlos dolor-
ousy.
At this moment swayed moro insecurity than
before on my air. to the occasion and to my
feet
I" You 60 Tor the victuals," said to Maria Jane
and we will pull this chair to pieces and make fire
with it. Its last end shall be to brew tea will
pay you twice what 1t is worth; or I'll get you
chair IL il bargainp
:" LORI yes. 'Twon't take long ter split up every
thing there is in the house, tor that matter but
want We TO drink my tea bought some with my last
washn' money. Yc see wash for consd'able many
antilles on the road"
II these words We felt that we had the secret of
heir existence.
In five minutes more shc had told us where the
matches weIe also had Produced old Ratchet with
which to operate on the chair had received the in
formation to what barn our goods were In and had
ramped of through the moonlight, saying she should
be back in less than no time Her tall figure not
many rods away, looming up gigantcally the ridge
when bethought myself OF something very import
ant We had Just pulled the legs out OF the chair and
dropped legs and Ratchet and started for the door.
The dog" said and began to run after Mrs.
Yates and to shout TO her to wait for me. She
turned impatiently, and when came up with her she
said
II thought 70 was tired !" q Yes am tired that
would rather die than go with you" l answered
ervently but brought dog; forgot to tell
you. We lett him with the things. He wouldn't let
you touch them. You see must CO."
She demurred. She " want afraid OF no dog" But
Knew my own dog better than CHE knew him.
When we returned TO the Yates residence the odor
If tea was in the air, and there only one chair
cit in the dwelling the second one being ashes.
But there two stools which Marin Jane had
made by mailing sticks of wood OF equal length to the
,nds of two old boat seats These articles Of fur
Iiture rocked o good deal as we sat on them and